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Pregnancy Makes Some Vegetarians Crave Meat

babysugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:48 -0800

Pregnancy cravings can get the best of an expectant mama. A chocolate bar here, a scoop of peanut butter there. Researchers say that a woman's desire for certain foods represents her body's lack of certain nutrients. For some mamas-to-be, the cravings can create an entire lifestyle change.

For Tiffani Thiessen, who is due with her first baby this Spring, having a bun in the oven is wreaking havoc on the vegetarian's diet. She told People,

"I was a vegetarian for many, many, many years and all of a sudden I started to crave red meat. Crazy enough, I had a steak before I left tonight and I would never have eaten one before. One day I just woke up and craved meat."

Adding meat to a previously vegetarian diet can be tricky – often requiring gradual introduction in an effort to not disrupt the digestive system. If you stuck to a nonmeat diet, did you stick to it during pregnancy?

Speak Up: What's Your Food Vice?

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:00:29 -0800

Actress Eva Longoria told People that when it comes to food vices, dessert is no stand-in for Mexican.

"Anytime there is Mexican food around, you can bet I'll be eating it. I'm not a chocolate person and I'm not into sweets. I'm a meal [person]."

Longoria loves the cuisine so much that she took it to the next level and opened Beso, a Latin steakhouse, in LA a couple of years back, and she's opening a second location of the restaurant in Las Vegas this weekend.

When it comes to food vices, I'm with Longoria in craving savory meals over dessert - my biggest vice being a juicy burger! Even though I give into cravings sometimes, I make a lighter version whenever I can.

Tell me . . . what's your absolute food vice?

10 Foods to Curb Pregnancy Cravings

LilSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:13 -0700

Move over pickles and ice cream, the pregnancy craving cops are onto you. The foods women crave may evolve as they make their way through their expectant days, but at the heart of it all are nutrients that the mama-to-be and her baby need as they continue on their journey. Keeping a fridge well-stocked with foods that fulfill these cravings will help eliminate the need for late night grocery runs and odd mixtures on mommy's plate.

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Avoid Menu Items That Take You to Your Bliss Point

FitSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:30:00 -0700

The "once you pop, you can't stop" Pringles campaign seemed kind of cute, but the catch phrase actually embodied truth in advertising. Former FDA commissioner David A. Kessler says some foods are scientifically engineered with particular combinations of salt, sugar, and fat that ultimately take you to your "bliss point" and keep you reaching for more.

The appetite is manipulated by these flavor combinations and your willpower doesn't stand much of a chance after you've had a taste. The brain's pleasure system is shot into nirvana, and then you crave to relive that moment of pleasure by eating the same junk food. But that doesn't mean you're powerless - knowing what foods trigger your bliss point will enable you to avoid them, and ultimately those cravings should vanish.

In his book, The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, Kessler identifies some of the most blissful (and offensive) menu items. To see what they are, read more.

Classically comforting dishes like cheese fries, buffalo wings, chicken tenders, spinach dip, and potato skins, are all designed so you want to devour the entire plate. If moderation just isn't an option when you're presented with these foods, skip the order altogether and find a creative swap instead.

For example, satisfy your desire for potato skins by ordering a healthy baked potato instead. Top it with salsa or broccoli and go light on the cheese, butter, and sour cream for a nutritious and delicious substitute. You should notice your cravings subside the more you forgo those tricky foods that entice you to keep eating.

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Rate of Obesity Higher For Women Because . . .

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

I thought it was just my personality that causes me to have a hard time saying no to yummy treats, but it looks like the reason is actually my gender. New research indicates that women are less able to suppress feelings of hunger than men.

In a recent study involving 13 women and 10 men, scientists taught the participants a technique called cognitive inhibition, to enable both genders to ignore feelings of hunger. Then all the participants were asked to fast overnight. The next morning, the scientists showed the men and women delicious foods and scanned their brains monitoring their reactions, while the participants practiced the cognitive inhibition technique. Both men and women say the technique worked, but the brain scans showed the part of the brain that responds to food remained active in the women, while it decreased for the men. Even though the women said they were less hungry, the part of the brain that controls their drive to eat was all fired up.

This gender difference when it comes to food and hunger may explain why more women overeat, and therefore have a higher rate of obesity. Scientists think it may have to do with the difference in our hormones. What do you think? In your experiences, do you crave and think about food more than the guys you know?

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Walk Away From Your Chocolate Craving

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0800

If you crave chocolate intensely, know that you are not alone. Considered the most commonly craved food, chocolate now has a new proven adversary - walking. A recent British study involving a small number of chocoholics found that the simple act of walking reduced cravings for this cocoa derived delight. Walking briskly for 15 minutes not only reduced the blood pressure of study participants, but it reduced their cravings as well.

Next time you are craving chocolate, take yourself for a walk. I think this little trick might just work with any craving. Test it out and see.

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Diet Tip: Curb Cravings With Mint

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

We're always looking for ways to fight cravings when they arise, and one my tricks of the trade is mint.

Yes, mint does wonders to keep my cravings under control as its strong scent is a natural appetite suppressant. I keep a mint scented candle in my kitchen and I like to light it at night. Not only does it keep the house smelling good, I feel like I am less likely to give into late night snacking temptations. Other simple ideas are to sip mint tea, chew sugar-free mint gum, or simply brush your teeth. It may all be psychological, but it works for me so I can't complain. Try it out and see if mint helps keep your cravings under control too. If not, check out some other great ideas for curbing cravings.

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All the News That's Fit to Eat - Oct. 8, 2008

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:30:05 -0700

Ten multipurpose pantry items that will come in handy for the home cook. - San Francisco Chronicle
Why we have food cravings and what they mean. - Boston Globe
This Columbus Day, learn how the historical voyage changed the way the world eats. - Chicago Tribune
The economic downtown is changing the dynamics of the fine dining industry. - Los Angeles Times
What role does gender play when dining at restaurants? - New York Times
Why onions make us cry, and the best way to stay dry-eyed. - Washington Post
A home cook gets put to the test in a restaurant kitchen. - Miami Herald

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Healthy Eating Tip: Give in to Your Cravings, Just a Little

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Cravings happen to the best of us and they're hard to ignore. One of the best ways to get rid of a craving is to give in to your craving, but just a little. Allow yourself to indulge in a food every once in a while, and don't go overboard. In fact, CNN even reported that people who occasionally give in are able to manage their weight most successfully in the long run. So be sure to practice portion control, which means if you're craving chocolate, have a piece instead of the whole bar. If you're craving french fries, order a small instead of a large. If you're craving soda, have only a few sips. You get the idea, right?

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Diet Tip: Whiten Your Teeth and Prevent Snacking

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

When it's about 6 p.m. and I start making dinner, I sometimes find it hard to resist snacking. If this sounds familiar then here's an odd, but effective trick to keep you from munching. Try wearing Crest Whitestrips while you cook. For the 30 minutes they're in your mouth, you cannot eat or drink. It'll take you about that long to prepare your meal. By the time you're ready to eat, you can remove the strips and your appetite won't be spoiled with mindless snacking.

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